FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Iraq

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the position of the Christian community in Iraq since the commencement of allied military action earlier this year.

Bill Rammell: Staff in the British Office, Baghdad and UK secondees in the Coalition Provisional Authority have been meeting representatives of many Iraqi political and religious groups, including the Christian community, to hear their views. These meetings are continuing.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he asked his officials to ascertain the reliability and robustness of the information contained in the UNMOVIC working document on Iraq's proscribed Weapons Programmes, of 6 March.

Chris Mullin: Yes.

Palestinian Refugees

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with the governments of (a) Jordan, (b) Lebanon and (c) Syria on the situation of the Palestinian community in their countries; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We have raised this issue on a number of occasions with Arab governments. We do have concerns about the living conditions experienced by some Palestinian refugees. But ultimately this issue is a matter for negotiation between the parties concerned within the context of a comprehensive peace agreement.

Syria

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with the Government of Syria regarding their involvement in Lebanon; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We have a dialogue with Syria on a wide range of issues, Lebanon included. The relationship between the two countries is close. While Syria has a degree of influence in Lebanon, its presence has the support of the Lebanese Government and is arguably legitimate under agreements made at the end of the civil war. But we welcome the decrease in Syrian troop numbers and urge Syria to reduce numbers yet further.

HEALTH

Immigrants (Viruses)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that immigrants are free from easily transmissible viruses, with particular reference to HIV.

Melanie Johnson: The Cabinet Office is currently co-ordinating work between relevant Government Departments, including the Department of Health, to review immigration and infectious diseases and access to National Health Service services. The review aims to establish the facts about health and public expenditure impacts and propose solutions should action be required. The review is ongoing and no decisions have been taken yet.

Organic Maize

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the average levels of fumicosin and aflatoxin in UK maize grain produced organically;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the average levels of fumicosin and aflatoxin in UK maize grain used in the human and animal food industry.

Melanie Johnson: United Kingdom maize grain is either used as "corn on the cob" or for animal feed, usually as maize silage. There is no data available regarding the average level of fumonisins or aflatoxins in these products, whether conventionally or organically produced.
	The Food Standards Agency is currently carrying out a survey of retail maize products, including "corn on the cob", for a range of mycotoxins, including fumonisins and aflatoxins. It is anticipated that the results of this survey will be available in December 2003.

Blood Cholesterol

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what progress has been made in encouraging health professionals to provide dietary and lifestyle advice on lowering blood cholesterol;
	(2)  what resources have been devoted to increasing public awareness of the health impact of raised blood cholesterol; and what plans he has for future programmes.

Melanie Johnson: A number of lifestyle factors are known to be associated with raised blood cholesterol level, an important risk factor for heart disease, including diet (particularly a high intake of saturated fat), overweight and obesity and low levels of physical activity.
	Improving diet, increasing physical activity levels and preventing and managing of obesity are at the heart of many of the Government's priority areas, as set out in the NHS Plan, Cross-Cutting Review on health inequalities, national service frameworks and the Priorities and Planning Framework.
	The Priorities and Planning Framework for 2003–06 includes targets for reducing coronary heart disease (CHD). One of these targets requires practice-based registers (for patients with CHD and diabetes) and systematic treatment regimes, including appropriate advice on diet, physical activity and smoking. This also covers the majority of patients at high risk of CHD, particularly those with hypertension, diabetes and a body mass index greater than 30.
	The quality and outcomes framework within the new general medical services contract, being introduced from 1 April 2004, will reward general practitioners who monitor, and can demonstrate control of, the cholesterol level of patients suffering from chronic heart disease.
	Two new initiatives will be key in fostering healthier lifestyles. The Department of Health is leading on the development of a cross-government Food and Health Action Plan. The plan will pull together all the issues that influence what we eat and will address food production, manufacture and preparation, access to healthier food choices and providing information for consumers about healthy eating and nutrition. This is complemented by wide ranging action on physical activity, which will be progressed by a cross-government Activity Co-ordination Team, jointly led by the Department and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.
	The Department of Health has a range of actions already in place aimed at improving diet and increasing physical activity levels. These include: action to increase breastfeeding; reform of the Welfare Food Scheme; the Five a day programme, including the National School Fruit Scheme in England, to increase fruit and vegetable intakes; a wide range of programmes in schools; joint Department and Food Standards Agency (FSA) work with industry to address the sugar, fat and salt content of the diet; and Local Exercise Action Pilots. The FSA also has an important role in improving our diets, as outlined in their Nutrition Action Plan. They provide advice on what constitutes a healthy diet and also address food labelling and claims.

Chauffeur Services

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the annual cost to his Department is of the chauffeur service.

Rosie Winterton: The contract cost of the core services for 2002–03 from the Government Car Service was £424,100. This includes the cost of Ministerial cars and cars for the Permanent Secretary and the Chief Medical Officer.

Combination Drugs

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the potential for future use of combination drugs to prevent coronary diseases and heart attacks.

Melanie Johnson: Dr. Roger Boyle, National Director for Heart Disease, has invited the lead researchers to attend a meeting in October to discuss the "polypill" proposals. Although there are some clear attractions, there are significant clinical, practical and financial implications that need to be explored further.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Anti-Semitism

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the trend has been in anti-semitic attacks on (a) property and (b) persons over the last year in (i) England, (ii) the West Midlands and (iii) Coventry.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 8 September 2003
	The Government publish general statistics on racist incidents and racially-aggravated crime, but do not hold figures on specifically anti-semitic incidents. However, figures are made available by the Community Security Trust (CST), a body that advises and represents the Jewish community on matters of anti-semitism and security.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts Council

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with the Arts Council on the funding of sexually explicit material.

Estelle Morris: I have had no discussions with the Arts Council on this issue.

Tourism

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what investment is planned by her Department to help the British tourist industry recover from the effects of the war in Iraq; and what steps the Government proposes to take to boost tourism in the UK in the aftermath of the war.

Richard Caborn: This year the Government are providing over £50 million to VisitBritain to encourage people in Britain and abroad to take their holidays here. In addition to on-going promotional work in its 27 overseas offices, VisitBritain is running two major overseas campaigns this year: a £2 million campaign launched in the summer with the industry to encourage US visitors to holiday in Britain, and a £4 million "City Breaks" campaign with the industry in Europe to be launched in the autumn. VisitBritain is also promoting domestic tourism in England and ran its first domestic campaign, 'Enjoy England', in April 2003. A further domestic campaign is planned for the autumn.

Tourism

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures the Government is taking to encourage British subjects to spend their holidays in the UK.

Richard Caborn: This year the Government are providing VisitBritain with £10.4 million to lead and co-ordinate the domestic marketing of England as a tourist destination. VisitBritain's first domestic campaign, "Enjoy England", was launched in April 2003 and a three-year domestic marketing strategy for England will be published in the autumn. We are providing £3.6 million to England's Regional Development Agencies to fund the English Regional Tourist Boards. We are also providing £3.6 million over two years from the Invest to Save budget to support the EnglandNet project, which will create an on-line tourism network for England.

Tourism

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent by her Department, and the agencies for which she is responsible, to promote tourism in (a) the UK as a whole and (b) each of the UK regions in each year since 1997.

Richard Caborn: The British Tourist Authority (BTA) was allocated baseline grant-in-aid by the Department as follows:
	
		
			  Grant to BTA (£ million) 
		
		
			 1997–98 35 
			 1998–99 35 
			 1999–2000 36 
			 2000–01 37 
			 2001–02 35.5 
			 2002–03 35.5 
		
	
	In addition, £14.2 million was awarded in 2001–02 and a further £19 million in 2002–03 from the Reserve in order to help tourism recover from the impact of the foot and mouth outbreak and the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. BTA did not allocate funds for individual regions of Britain, but promoted Britain as a whole in a way which maximised the impact of its campaigns in individual markets overseas.
	The English Tourist Board (ETB), from 1999 the English Tourism Council (ETC), was allocated baseline grant in aid by the Department as follows:
	
		
			  Grant to ETB/ETC (£ million) 
		
		
			 1997–98 9.9 
			 1998–99 9.7 
			 1999–2000 11.8 
			 2000–01 11 
			 2001–02 9.6 
			 2002–03 11.6 
		
	
	In addition, £3.8 million was awarded in 2001–02 from the Reserve, over half of which was then passed to the 10 Regional Tourist Boards in England, and a further £1 million from the Reserve in 2002–03. In 2002–03, the English Tourism Council was also awarded £3.6 million over two years from the Invest to Save Budget to support the development of the EnglandNet project to establish an online tourism network for England.
	Grant in aid from the ETB/ETC was allocated to the English Regional Tourist Boards as follows:
	
		£000
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Cumbria 243 242 222 376 625 449 
			 East of England 493 393 397 597 840 806 
			 Heart of England 467 496 460 652 900 793 
			 London 454 393 355 408 172 26 
			 Northumbria 251 219 254 371 551 447 
			 North West 293 293 292 413 594 575 
			 South East England 321 287 282 363 534 544 
			 Southern 459 479 438 571 734 766 
			 South West Tourism 439 488 476 535 814 663 
			 Yorkshire 506 513 469 563 730 655 
		
	
	In both 2001–02 and 2002–03, this Department provided £1.9 million to the Greater London Authority for tourism. Tourism is a devolved matter and is the responsibility of the respective Administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Tourism

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to introduce an individual national tourism body for England.

Richard Caborn: The Government have no plans to introduce an individual national tourism body for England. In April 2003 VisitBritain was created, combining the strengths and resources of the English Tourism Council and the British Tourist Authority. VisitBritain has responsibility for the promotion of Britain overseas and England to the domestic market. The England Marketing Advisory Board provides advice on the domestic promotion of England.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

A-Levels

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many A-levels were taken in (a) French and (b) German in 2003; what percentage change these figures represent from 2002; and what estimate he has made of the number of French and German A-levels which will be taken in 2004.

David Miliband: These are provisional figures published recently by the Joint Council for General Qualifications. They cover GCE A-level entries for candidates of all ages in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
	
		GCE A-level
		
			  Entries 
			 Year 2002 2003 % change 
		
		
			 French 15,614 15,531 -0.5 
			 German 7,013 6,950 -0.9 
		
	
	The DfES has not made an estimate of the numbers taking these exams in 2004 due to unavailability of data.

Exclusions

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils were excluded from (a) primary schools, (b) city technology colleges, (c) other secondary schools and (d) special schools in each year since 1988; how many of these exclusions were taken to appeal; and how many of these exclusions were successfully overturned by an appeals panel.

David Miliband: The available information, shown in the table, relates to permanent exclusions from 1995/96 onward.
	
		Number of permanent exclusions by school type and summary of school exclusion appeals -- England 1995/96–2001/02 (Provisional)
		
			  1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/00 2000/01 2001/01 
		
		
			 EXCLUSIONS  
			 PRIMARY SCHOOLS(1)  
			 Number of permanent exclusions 1,608 1,573 1,539 1,366 1,226 1,436 1,450 
			 Percentage of school population(2) 0.04 0.04 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 
			 SECONDARY SCHOOLS(1)  
			 Number of permanent exclusions 10,344 10,463 10,187 8,636 6,713 7,305 7,740 
			 Percentage of school population(2) 0.34 0.34 0.33 0.28 0.21 0.23 0.24 
			 SPECIAL SCHOOLS(3)  
			 Number of permanent exclusions 524 632 572 436 384 394 340 
			 Percentage of school population(2) 0.54 0.64 0.58 0.45 0.40 0.41 0.36 
			 CITY TECHNOLOGY COLLEGES(4)  
			 Number of permanent exclusions - - - - - 20 32 
			 Percentage of school population(2) - - - - - 0.12 0.20 
			 EXCLUSION APPEALS  
			 PRIMARY, SECONDARY AND SPECIAL SCHOOLS(5)  
			 Number of appeals lodged by parents 1,339 1,455 1,287 1,216 948 1,095 1,125 
			 Number of appeals overturned by an appeals panel 185 225 204 220 317 314 259 
			 Percentage of appeals overturned by an appeals panel(6) 17.0 19.9 20.2 22.8 36.7 31.9 24.4 
		
	
	(1) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(2) Number of permanent exclusions expressed as a percentage of the number (headcount) of full and part-time pupils of all ages (excluding dually registered pupils in special schools) in January each year.
	(3) Includes both maintained and non-maintained special schools.
	(4) Information on exclusions from City Technology Colleges was collected for the first time in 2002 (relating to academic year 2000/01). There was no checking exercise to confirm the quality of exclusions data from City Technology Colleges so these figures should be used with caution.
	(5) Information on exclusion appeals is collected at LEA-level for primary, secondary and special schools. This information is not available by school type.
	(6) Number of appeals decided in parents' favour expressed as a percentage of all appeals heard by an appeals panel.
	provisional
	—not available

GCSE/GNVQ

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the percentage change was between 2002 and 2003 in the number of pupils attaining A* and A grades in all GCSE subjects; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: It is not possible at this stage to calculate numbers of 15 year-old pupils achieving GCSEs, how many GCSEs they achieved or at what grade. This information can be made available on a provisional basis in late October.

GCSE/GNVQ

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the equivalent GCSE grades represented by a GNVQ intermediate full award are at (a) distinction, (b) merit and (c) pass; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The contribution to the average GCSE/GNVQ point score is shown in the table below:
	
		
			 Grade Points Points per GCSE equivalent 
		
		
			 Distinction 30 7.5 
			 Merit 24 6 
			 Pass 20 5 
		
	
	Points awarded for GCSEs range from 8 for a grade A* to 1 for a grade G. A GNVQ intermediate full award is the equivalent of 4 grades A*-C at GCSE, regardless of whether a distinction, merit or pass is achieved.
	The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has established this equivalence.

Key Stage 2

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of 11 year-olds in (a) the Taunton constituency and (b) Somerset have achieved Key Stage 2 in each year since 1997 in (i) Mathematics and (ii) English.

David Miliband: The percentage of pupils achieving Level 4 or above at Key Stage 2 in (a) the Taunton constituency and (b) Somerset Local Education Authority (LEA) from 1997 to 2003 is as follows:
	
		
			  English Mathematics 
			  Taunton Constituency Somerset LEA England Taunton Constituency Somerset LEA England 
		
		
			 2003* 74 74 75 72 72 73 
			 2002 75 74 75 74 72 73 
			 2001 75 74 75 71 69 71 
			 2000 75 75 75 69 70 72 
			 1999 71 73 71 69 70 69 
			 1998 66 67 65 60 58 59 
			 1997 67 67 63 63 63 62 
		
	
	* Provisional

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Solway Firth Wind Farm

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received from Allerdale district council on the proposed Solway Firth wind farm.

Stephen Timms: The Scottish Executive were responsible for dealing with the application for consent for the Solway Firth wind farm. There was no DTI involvement in the consents process and any representations made in respect of the application were dealt with by the executive.

Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions (a) she and (b) senior members of her Department have had with (i) UK based non-governmental organisations, (ii) EU based non-governmental organisations, (iii) non-governmental organisations based in the Caucasus region and (iv) US based non-governmental organisations on the issue of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline project; when these discussions took place; what the result of these discussions was; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The following discussions have been held with NGOs on the issue of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline project:
	(a) The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry: none.
	(b) Officials in the Export Credits Guarantee Department:
	(i) UK based NGOs:
	The Corner House—30 November 2002 (at DFID), 29 May 2003 (at DFID) and 3 June 2003 (at ECGD)
	Kurdish Human Rights Project—30 November 2002 (at DFID), 29 May 2003 (at DFID) and 3 June 2003 (at ECGD)
	Bretton Woods Project—30 November 2002 (at DFID) and 29 May 2003 (at DFID)
	PLATFORM—29 May (at DFID), 3 June (at ECGD) and 11 June (at EBRD)
	Friends of the Earth—29 May (at DFID) and 3 June (at ECGD)
	WWF(UK)—29 May (at DFID) and 3 June (at ECGD)
	Amnesty International—20 May (at Carlton Terrace), 29 May (at DFID), 3 June (at ECGD) and 4 August (at ECGD)
	Transparency International—3 June (at ECGD) (ii) EU based NGOs: None
	(iii) Caucasus based NGOs:
	Society for Democratic Reform, Azerbaijan—30 November 2002 (at DFID)
	Social-Democratic Party, Azerbaijan—30 November 2002 (at DFID)
	Young Lawyers' Association, Georgia—30 November 2002 (at DFID)
	IHD, Turkey—30 November 2002 (at DFID)
	University of Mersin, Turkey—30 November 2002 (at DFID)
	Caucasus NGO Federation, Azerbaijan—29 May (at DFID) and 16 June (in Baku)
	CLEE, Azerbaijan—18 June (in Baku)
	Green Alternatives, Georgia—29 May (at DFID) and 19 June (in Tbilisi)
	WWF (Caucasus)—19 June (in Tbilisi)
	DEHAP, Turkey (Kurdish political party)—29 May (at DFID) and 22 June (in Ardahan)
	RUDF, Turkey—24 June (in Ankara)
	Ankara University—24 June (in Ankara)
	Caucasus Sub-regional NGO Network—18 July (at ECGD)
	Association of Women Scientists of Georgia—18 July (at ECGD)
	Georgian Society of Nature Explorers "Orchis"—18 July (at ECGD)
	Institute of Social Researches—18 July (at ECGD)
	'Save Borjomi'—18 July (at ECGD)
	Ecology of the Caucasus—18 July (at ECGD)
	(iv) US based NGOs: None
	At all of these discussions the ECGD official(s) listened carefully to what was said and confirmed that they would take account of this information in their analyses of the potential environmental and social impacts of the project. The ECGD official(s) also stated that cover would only be offered if ECGD was satisfied that the relevant environmental, social and human rights impacts had been properly addressed and that the financial and project risks were acceptable.

Electricity Generation (Biomass)

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what targets have been set for electricity generation from biomass; and if she will assess the impact of such targets on industries dependent on the supply of wood residue.

Stephen Timms: The 10 per cent. target for electricity generation from renewables, as set in the Renewables Obligation, will be met by the total generation from all eligible renewable energy sources. The obligation does not specify targets for individual technologies as the obligation is a market-led mechanism with the selection and uptake of the technologies to be used to meet the 10 per cent. target a matter for industry, within the framework set by the obligation.

Offshore Wind Power

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the Ministry of Defence over the projected expansion of offshore wind power; and what assessments have been made of the potential interference with its radar system.

Stephen Timms: The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Defence wrote to me recently to reaffirm the MOD's full commitment achievement for our target that 10 per cent. of the UK's electricity supplies are to be generated from renewable resources.
	At official level officials in my Department maintain an on-going dialogue with their MOD counterparts on renewable energy issues including offshore wind power. The MOD attends the Wind Energy and Aviation Interests Working Group which is chaired by the Department and which provides a forum where a range of issues can be addressed.
	Companies who intend to submit bids in response to the Crown Estate's July 2003 invitation to tender for offshore wind farm site options have been advised to consult the MOD and the Civil Aviation Authority who will advise whether they would object to development in any particular location on grounds on potential radar interference or for other reasons. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Defence has reassured me that where MOD objects to a development his Department will do whatever is practicable to negotiate with the developer to reach a mutually acceptable agreement that would result in objection being withdrawn.
	More generally, the Wind Energy and Aviation Interests Working Group has commissioned research into the effects of rotating turbine blades on radar. Work is progressing on a computer model that will describe the effects of particular wind farms on individual radar systems. A second study is investigating measures to mitigate the potential effects on radar of wind turbines.

Wood Panel Industry

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will undertake further consultation with the wood panel industry on the effects of the renewable obligation subsidy on the supply of wood residues.

Stephen Timms: I will be meeting with a number of MPs and representatives of the Wood Panel Industries Federation on 21 October 2003 to discuss this issue.
	On 29 August I launched a statutory consultation paper on the Technical Review of the Renewables Obligation. This consultation outlines a number of changes we propose to make with effect from April 2004 and seeks the views of all statutory consultees and others. One of the key proposals is a set of modifications to the rules on the co-firing of biomass with fossil fuels with a view to enhancing the prospects for the development of a market in energy crops.
	My officials continue to facilitate work between representatives of the UK wood industry and co-firing power stations to explore the opportunities offered by co-firing under the Obligation for UK forestry, and, in particular, the potential for using by-products from existing wood industries. It is hoped that this initiative, if successful, will have the dual benefit of reducing imports and making more biomass available to a larger market in the UK, thereby helping to stabilise prices. We understand from the forestry industry that it can meet demand from power generators from existing surplus forestry material. My officials are obtaining further information on the availability of forestry material used by power generators and wood panel manufacturers.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Affordable Housing

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to increase the amount of affordable homes in rural areas; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The Rural White Paper published in November 2000 set out plans for delivering more affordable housing in rural settlements. Funding for the Housing Corporation doubled between 2000 and 2003 to benefit both rural and urban areas, and the Government doubled the target for the programme for small rural settlements (below 3,000 people) from 800 to 1,600 homes a year. The 2003 Sustainable Communities Plan White Paper has further increased this target to a total of 3,500 homes over 2 years (2004–05 to 2005–06).
	The Housing Corporation has approved a total of 3,923 homes in small rural settlements (of 3,000 people or fewer) over the years 2000–01 to 2002–03, exceeding their target in each of the years. A further 7,082 homes were approved through other funding sources, Approved Development Programme and local authority funding, in rural settlements of all sizes including market towns.
	Through the Countryside Agency and the Housing Corporation we are funding Rural Housing Enablers jointly with local partners, to work with rural communities, housing associations, local authorities and landowners to help increase the supply of affordable housing in rural settlements. Currently there are 37 enablers in post and we aim to have 47 by 2004–05 to give full national coverage.
	As my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Housing and Planning announced on 17 July 2003, Official Report, column 53WS, the Government are consulting on an update of the existing guidance on planning for affordable housing. The update will be supported by practice advice. The update addresses a number of matters including the provision of affordable housing in rural areas. The proposed changes give greater flexibility to local authorities to seek affordable housing on smaller sites where this is justified. It is also envisaged that in rural areas affordable housing provision may be supported by allocating sites solely for affordable housing, on land within or adjoining existing villages, which would not otherwise be released for housing and where this would contribute to the attainment of mixed communities.
	The new Regional Housing Boards, introduced by the Communities Plan (2003), are now taking responsibility for the preparation of Regional Housing Strategies. They have been charged to rural proof their strategies with the assistance of the Countryside Agency. The strategies will then provide the basis for our decisions on strategic housing investment priorities in the regions.

Broadband

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her department is taking to improve broadband technology in rural areas.

Alun Michael: Defra Ministers and officials are working closely with colleagues at the DTI on the promotion of broadband access in rural areas which we both regard as crucial to the future of the rural economy. Defra officials work closely with the DTI policy team, and cooperation has been strengthened by the inclusion of a Defra official in the recently formed Rural Broadband Team in DTI. The team will focus on the problems and issues of broadband for rural areas including supporting local campaign groups.
	The Government are making £1 billion available over 2003–06 to provide for public sector broadband connectivity. The DTI Broadband Aggregation project will aggregate the public sector demand for this purpose. Defra Ministers and officials are closely involved to ensure that this investment will help extend broadband availability into rural areas for the benefit of rural businesses and communities. Defra will continue to work closely with DTI on rural broadband issues.

GM Crops

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Government will allow immediate commercial growing of those GM crops currently being assessed under the farm scale trials programme if the crops are found to be associated with environmental benefits and without any determinable drawbacks.

Elliot Morley: None of the crops being assessed in the farm scale evaluations yet have all the required authorisations to permit commercial growing in the UK.
	To be authorised for commercial cultivation in the European Union (EU), a GM crop would need to be granted a consent on safety grounds under Part C of EU Directive 2001/18. Decisions under this Directive are taken collectively by the European Commission and EU member states on a case-by-case basis. No GM crop would be granted a Part C consent unless it passed a detailed assessment indicating that it posed no unacceptable risk to human health or the environment, and complied with the other requirements of the Directive. To date, only one of the four crops in the farm scale evaluations, a herbicide tolerant GM maize, has a Part C consent.
	The UK will ensure that the results of the farm scale evaluations are taken into account in collective EU decisions on whether or not to grant Part C consent to each of the crops that do not yet have such authorisation—sugar beet, fodder beet and oil seed rape. In the case of the GM maize that already has a Part C consent, the results will inform us on whether the assessment underpinning that consent remains valid.
	GM crops are also subject to other EU legislation. Before any new variety of a crop, including GM varieties, can be grown commercially in the UK, that variety must be entered on either the UK national seed list or the European common catalogue of seeds. To date, none of the GM crops in the farm scale evaluations has such listing.
	In addition, if a crop was intended for use with a certain weed killer—as is the case with all four crops in the farm scale evaluations—it would need a consent under EU pesticides legislation before it could be used in conjunction with that weed killer. To date, none of the four crops concerned have such consent.
	Furthermore, if a GM crop was intended for food use, it must also have a consent under EC novel foods legislation.

Hunting Bill

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to introduce financial aid to those disadvantaged by the Hunting Bill.

Alun Michael: No. It is not normal practice, nor a requirement of human rights legislation, to pay compensation to people affected by legislative change except where the legislation specifically deprives them of property. The Hunting Bill deprives no one of their property, but limits their use.

TRANSPORT

Aviation White Paper

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Department will publish the White Paper on the Future of Aviation.

Tony McNulty: The Government intend to publish their conclusions on "the Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom" consultation in a White Paper later this year.

BAe 146 Aircraft

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a full assessment of international (a) research and (b) investigations into the causes of cabin air quality incidents affecting BAe 146 aircraft, with particular reference to problems with organophosphate jet engine lubricants; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 8 September 2003
	The Department for Transport Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is to publish a report following the investigation of a series of cabin air quality incidents involving BAe 146 aircraft. The report also considers similar incidents involving Boeing 757, Boeing 737 and Fokker F100 aircraft.
	The AAIB report will include details of investigations and research conducted into incidents in Australia, Canada, and Sweden, together with the results of an extensive programme of testing and research conducted in the UK in response to earlier AAIB safety recommendations.
	The AAIB report is expected to be published in December.

BAe 146 Aircraft

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps have been taken to establish the cause and nature of the emergency in the BAe 146 aircraft, when fumes in the cabin necessitated evacuation of passengers, on Friday 1 August; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 8 September 2003
	The Department for Transport Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is conducting an investigation into the incident involving a BAe 146 aircraft on 1 August. The AAIB report will be published as soon as the investigation is completed.

European Aviation Safety Agency

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the purpose is of establishing the European Aviation Safety Agency; what powers it has in the United Kingdom; what its estimated annual cost is; and where it is located.

Tony McNulty: The European Aviation Safety Agency has been established under Regulation (EC) 1592/2002. The principle objective of that Regulation is to establish and maintain a high uniform level of civil aviation safety in Europe.
	The Agency has a pivotal role in achieving that objective through the drafting of common safety rules; through monitoring, where applicable, the implementation of those rules by member states' national aviation authorities; and through carrying out itself a number of certification tasks, initially mainly in the field of aircraft and product designs.
	The Regulation gives the Agency all the necessary powers to carry out these duties in the United Kingdom, in particular powers to carry out relevant investigations for issuing certificates to UK applicants and for conducting standardisation audits of the Civil Aviation Authority.
	The Agency is due to assume its certification responsibilities on 28 September 2003, initially outsourcing much of the work to national aviation authorities. The Agency's own staff will be built up over time and its annual costs will depend on decisions yet to be made by the Executive Director about the Agency's structure and working methods. A preliminary draft budget for 2004 of 17.24 MEuro has been agreed by the EASA Management Board, of which the majority of the costs will be met out of Community funds.
	A decision about the permanent location of the Agency has not yet been made. It has established a temporary headquarters in Brussels.

Rail Services (Merseyside)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps have been taken to increase the number of additional park and ride spaces serving the Merseyrail network for 2003–04.

Tony McNulty: The following schemes are in progress at locations serving the Merseyrail network.
	Formby
	Refurbishment of the car park, up-grading provision for blue badge holders, construction of a bus interchange and taxi stands. The number of spaces is to be determined. A further phase is being considered for land off Andrews lane.
	Birkdale
	Refurbishment of the car park, up-grading provision for blue badge holders and delivery of a further 14 spaces. A further phase depends on the availability of land.
	Maghull
	Extension of the existing car park, delivering a further 88 spaces.
	Aintree
	A scheme to deliver a further 50 spaces is being considered, subject to planning constraints.
	Kirkby
	Refurbishment of the car park, and up-grading of the bus interchange, taxi stands and provision for blue badge holders. The scheme will deliver a further 10 spaces. A further phase could deliver another 100 spaces.
	Whiston
	Construction of a new car park and bus interchange, delivering a further 45 spaces.
	Prescot
	Refurbishment and enlargement of the existing car park including provision for blue badge holders, delivering a further 32 spaces.
	Seaforth and Litherland
	Refurbishment and enlargement of the existing car park including provision for blue badge holders, delivering a further 20 spaces.

Rail Services (Merseyside)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken to improve standards of station seating, shelter and passenger facilities for the rail services in Merseyside.

Tony McNulty: Through the Strategic Rail Authority's Modern Facilities at Stations (MFAS) programme, 21 stations in Merseyside will receive improvements. This will involve the installation of real time passenger information at 20 stations and improved waiting facilities (waiting rooms with heating, integral seating and automatic doors) at 16 stations.
	Merseytravel Passenger Transport Authority and Executive is seeking, via its own programme, to deliver improvements at a further 25 stations through the local transport plan. Where shelters, seats and customer information systems are included as part of the improvement the aim is to deliver to MFAS standards were possible.

Rail Services (Merseyside)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of fare irregularities were detected in Merseyside over the past two years.

Tony McNulty: The percentage of fare irregularities on Merseyside over the last two years was approximately 11 per cent. This figure is for all fare irregularities including passengers travelling with no ticket, those who travelled beyond the validity of the ticket and those travelling in the peak with an off-peak ticket, irrespective of intent. The figure is for the 24 months up to June 2003, being the most recent period for which data are available.

Ferries

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met the Health and Safety Executive to discuss the risks associated with wake from ferries; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: My officials have regular contact with Health and Safety Executive (HSE) colleagues on a range of safety matters.
	Conventional ferries, with relatively slow speed monohulls, do not generate undue wake and routine navigational safeguards are adequate to manage potential risk. However, we have been aware for some time of the hazards associated with the wake from fast ferries, in particular catamarans. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) requires a route risk assessment of passage plans for wake generation, as a pre-requisite to issuing a Permit to Operate for High Speed Craft. This requires the operator to identify circumstances where a hazardous wash may be created and take steps either to reduce the wake from the vessel or re-route the vessel as appropriate.

Ministerial Visits

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the (a) foreign and (b) UK visits he has made since 1 April; what the cost was to public funds of each trip; who he met; and what gifts were received.

Tony McNulty: The Government publish the overall costs of all ministerial overseas travel and a list of all visits overseas by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500 on an annual basis. The list for period 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003 was published by the Prime Minister on 16 July, Official Report, column 482W. The next list for period 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 will be published at the end of the financial year.
	Since the 1 April the Secretary of State for Transport has undertaken the following UK visits:
	On 8 April, he met representatives from South Central Trains at the Integrated Travel Centre, Brighton. The journey was made using the contracted Government car and train at a cost of £42.
	On 24 April, he met the French Transport Minister and his delegation in Berkshire. The journey was made using the contracted Government car.
	On 9 May, he met the Chief Executive of the DVLA and local staff at the DVLA, Edinburgh. The journey was made using a hired Government car at a cost of £62.50.
	On 12 May, he met the Chief Executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in Dover. The journey was made using the contracted Government car service and the train at a cost of £30.10.
	On 20 June he met the Manchester and Liverpool Chamber of Commerce at Manchester Airport. He then went to the Stockport station and Edgely signalling Centre and met the Stockport project manager and Network Rail representative and Ann Coffey MP. The journey was made by plane, hired Government car and train at a cost of £453.60.
	On 8 July he met representatives from Chiltern Railways and Laing Rail at Chiltern Railways, Aylesbury. The journey was made by contracted Government car.
	In respect of gifts received, I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 14 March Official Report, column 482W.

Speed Cameras

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects of speed cameras upon the number of (a) fatal and (b) other serious accidents.

David Jamieson: On 11 February 2003 the Department published an independently produced evaluation report of the 2-year trial of the safety camera cost recovery system. This showed a 35 per cent. reduction in those killed or seriously injured at camera sites, equating to around 280 people and a 4 per cent. reduction in those killed or seriously injured across the pilot areas, equating to around 530 people.

TREASURY

Aggregates Companies

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many aggregates companies there are in each region of the UK; and how many there were in 2001.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Alex Salmond, dated 10 September 2003
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question on the number of aggregates companies there are in each region of the UK. I am replying in his absence. (127198)
	The table below shows the number of companies, broken down by region, who reported aggregate material in 2001 and 2002. This information has been taken from the Annual Minerals Survey (AMRI), carried out by the Office for National Statistics on behalf of the Department for Trade and Industry and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
	
		Companies, broken down by region, who reported aggregate material in 2001 and 2002
		
			 Region name 2001 2002 
		
		
			 North East 14 16 
			 Yorkshire & the Humber 33 32 
			 North West 29 28 
			 West Midlands 29 28 
			 East Midlands 34 32 
			 East of England 44 44 
			 South East 48 45 
			 South West 50 50 
			 Wales 36 32 
			 Scotland 102 99 
			 Total companies 353 341 
		
	
	The data relates to GB only.
	The same company may appear in more than one region.
	The total is the overall number of companies.

Child Care Vouchers

Roy Beggs: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Government will take in applying the Inland Revenue's salary sacrifice scheme for the purchase of child care vouchers to ensure that low income employees have the same advantages as higher paid employees; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: It is open to any employer and its employees to enter into a salary sacrifice arrangement linked to the provision of child care vouchers in order to take advantage of the exemption from national insurance contributions that applies to them.
	The Government also provide help to parents in low to medium income families with the cost of child care through the child care element of working tax credit.

Census

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Chairman of the Statistics Commission on the UK census.

John Healey: Treasury Ministers have not discussed the Census with the Chairman of the Statistics Commission. The Statistics Commission, which is independent of both Ministers and the producers of National Statistics, was established to advise on the quality, quality assurance and priority setting for National Statistics, and on the procedures designed to deliver statistical integrity. The Commission has announced that, using the Census results for Westminster city council as an example, it is considering evidence on whether Census 2001 was properly conducted and whether there are lessons to be learned for the future. The Commission has yet to publish its report, but expects to do so, probably in stages, between the summer and autumn of this year.

Cigarette Imports

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of cigarettes imported from EU countries in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003. [R]

John Healey: The following table shows the number (in thousands) of cigarettes imported from EU countries in 2002 and up to May of this year (the latest month for which figures are available). The figures show cigarettes imported by way of trade and do not include personal imports.
	
		
			 Period Thousand 
		
		
			 January to December 2002 8,552,145 
			 January to May 2003 2,154,815 
		
	
	These figures are also available on the Customs website www.uktradeinfo.com.

Customs and Excise

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce on the spot fines for people caught bringing illegal meats and bushmeat into the UK.

John Healey: Customs have no current plans to introduce on the spot fines for people caught bringing illegal meats and bushmeat into the UK.

Customs and Excise

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when HM Customs plan to trial passenger luggage x-ray equipment to detect illegal meat and bushmeat at UK ports of entry.

John Healey: Customs have already conducted some informal trials using existing equipment to look for illegal meat. They are currently in discussion with suppliers with a view to conducting further evaluation as soon as possible.

Customs and Excise

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many illegal meat seizures have been made by HM Customs in each month since they assumed control of enforcement at UK ports of entry; and what percentage of these seizures are classified as bushmeat.

John Healey: Customs do not normally publish seizure information on a monthly basis. Exemptions 4(b) and 7(b) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information apply. However, annual seizure figures will be reported in the Government's "Annual Review of Controls on Imports of Animal Products" which is published by Defra.

Customs and Excise

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many dogs are used at air and sea ports of entry into the United Kingdom to detect illegal imports of food products.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Wealden (Mr. Hendry) on 6 May 2003, Official Report, column 618W.

Online Tax Assessment

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government's UK on-line agenda has met HM Treasury's stated expectations in the transformation of the delivery of its services.

Paul Boateng: The Government recognise that there is considerable potential for electronic government to transform the delivery of public services. That is why the Treasury allocated significant resources in the 2002 Spending Review to further develop electronic services.
	As part of the Spending Review the Cabinet Office reached a public service agreement with the Treasury to ensure Departments meet the Prime Minister's targets for electronic service delivery by Government: 100 per cent. capability by 2005, with key services achieving high levels of use. A growing number of services are now available on-line with more services being added through the UKonline portal.

Tax Credits

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons in the Chorley constituency are in receipt of (a) child tax credit and (b) working tax credit; and how many claims are outstanding.

Dawn Primarolo: Statistics on awards of these tax credits are being published today and are accessible on the Inland Revenue website (http://www.inlandrevenue. gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/main-tables-july03.pdf and http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/geographical-analysis-july03.pdf).
	For progress in processing claims, I refer my hon. Friend to my remarks during debate on 7 July 2003, Official Report, column 859. Breakdowns by constituency of the figures that I gave are not available.

Tax Credits

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how applications for tax credits received after the 5 July deadline will be treated; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Tax credits claims received by the Inland Revenue before midnight on Monday 7 July, the first full working day after the deadline, were treated as meeting the deadline for tax credits to be backdated to 6 April 2003, if appropriate. This was because the deadline fell at the weekend and to ensure that claims made through different channels were treated alike. Claims received after 7 July may be backdated for up to three months.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Northern Ireland Assembly

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had about the restoration of the devolved Assembly.

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent representations he has received regarding the progress of the peace process.

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the resumption of power sharing in Northern Ireland.

Paul Murphy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Blaby (Mr. Robathan), Official Report, column 314.

Regulatory Burdens

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to meet representatives of small business organisations to discuss regulatory burdens on business in Northern Ireland.

Ian Pearson: I have met representatives of small businesses on several occasions recently and I shall be happy to them again in the future to discuss regulatory and other issues of mutual interest.

Manufacturing

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress he is making with increasing inward manufacturing investment into the Province; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: In common with other regions, Northern Ireland has seen a decline in inward manufacturing investment as a result of the depressed global economic situation. Despite this, I am very pleased that in recent months major investment projects have been announced by Seagate and NACCO among others. Furthermore, Northern Ireland continues to be a particularly attractive investment location for service-based industry, as exemplified by the Abbey National's recent decision to open a new customer outreach centre at its Mays Meadow site in Belfast.

Housing

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the number of housing voids in Belfast.

Jane Kennedy: At 31 July 2003, there were a total of 6,593 empty properties of all tenures of which 2,181 are Northern Ireland Housing Executive properties and 4,412 are in the private sector. Over half the empty homes in the public sector are undergoing redevelopment or are awaiting demolition. The Northern Ireland House Condition Survey 2001 published in April 2003 shows that the level of vacancies is linked to inner-city decline factors and the emergence of new apartment developments.

Dangerous Wild Animals Act

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to extend the provisions of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 to Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: We are actively preparing proposals for legislation to regulate dangerous wild animals kept by private individuals in Northern Ireland. Legislation will aim to establish an appropriate regulatory regime in the interests of public safety.
	We will be consulting on proposed legislation in the near future.

Common Agricultural Policy

Eric Joyce: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the prospects are for agriculture in Northern Ireland following the mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy.

Ian Pearson: The recent agreement on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy makes for a more stable policy environment and will help put the agricultural industry on a more sustainable footing. It will enable farmers to concentrate on producing for the market and encourage good farming and countryside management practices which society values.

PRIME MINISTER

Iraq

Julian Lewis: To ask the Prime Minister what the basis was for his statement on 18 June 2003, Official Report, column 355, that extremists from Chechnya were among the foreign fighters engaging Coalition forces at the conclusion of the war in Iraq.

Tony Blair: According to US military sources, US forces engaged a number of irregular fighters from the middle east, North Africa and Chechnya near Baghdad in April 2003. These sources were quoted in several media reports at the time.

Iraq

Julian Lewis: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Reigate (Mr. Blunt) of 9 July 2003, Official Report, column 1156, whether the unsubstantiated reports of Chechens fighting Coalition forces in Iraq have been substantiated.

Tony Blair: I have nothing further to add at the current time.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

High Court (Backlog)

Keith Vaz: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs what the current backlog is in the High Court.

Christopher Leslie: An exercise is currently underway to provide accurate management information on workload in the High Court Divisions. This work will be completed by the end of October 2003, and I will then write to my hon. Friend with full details. Currently we can estimate the number of outstanding cases in the three main divisions. The estimates are:
	Chancery—7,400
	Family
	 Divorce—4,000
	 Care—3,500
	Queens Bench—8,000

Norton Report

Peter Duncan: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will publish a response to the Norton report.

Christopher Leslie: No. It is not the Government's practice to publish responses to privately commissioned reports.

DEFENCE

Joint Terrorist Analysis Centre

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representation the Royal Navy has in the Joint Terrorist Analysis Centre.

Adam Ingram: The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre is a Government organisation which can draw on the expertise of a wide number of Departments and agencies, including the Royal Navy. Its staff includes personnel from the Naval Service.

Colonel Tim Collins

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the court martial into the conduct of Colonel Tim Collins last met; when any written statement announcing the verdict was issued; what contacts there were between his Department and (a) the BBC and (b) journalists concerning the matter prior to the issue of the statement; and what the policy of his Department's press office was if asked to confirm or deny the substance of the matter (i) prior to Monday 1 September and (ii) on Monday 1 September.

Adam Ingram: Colonel Tim Collins was not the subject of a court martial. He was the subject of an internal investigation into his conduct during Operation TELIC, following allegations made against him. This investigation has now been completed and Colonel Collins has been informed that no formal disciplinary or administrative action would be taken against him.
	In response to a specific media inquiry on 20 May naming Colonel Collins and claiming that he was subject to an investigation, the press office confirmed that an investigation was being conducted. Other than confirming this, the press office offered no further comment while the investigation continued. On 29 August, however, once the investigation had finished and Colonel Collins had been informed of the outcome, the press office were advised that, in response to inquiries, they could confirm that the investigations had concluded and that no formal action would be taken. Our records indicate that the first inquiries from the press were not received until 1 September.
	The Ministry of Defence did not issue a written statement announcing either the commencement or conclusion of the investigation.

Consultation Documents

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the consultation documents issued by his Department in each of the last four years; what the cost was of producing each of these; how many documents were issued in each consultation; and how many responses were received in each consultation.

Adam Ingram: The Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultation applies to all formal national public consultation documents issued by Departments from 1 January 2001 and the information requested before that date is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Since 1 January 2001, the Ministry of Defence has issued seven formal national public consultation documents. They are:
	
		
			  Title Additional cost 
		
		
			 1 The Military Maritime Graves and the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 No information available 
			 2 
			 3 Armed Forces Pension Scheme ReviewJoint Compensation Review £13,800 (cost of both together) 
			 4 Ministry of Defence Police Quinquennial Review No additional cost 
			 5 Proposed Introduction of the Voluntary Screening Programme following Health Concerns in Respect of Depleted Uranium No additional cost 
			 6 The Second Consultation Document on the Introduction of a Voluntary Screening Programme for Depleted Uranium No additional cost 
			 7 Future of the Defence Diversification Agency No additional cost 
		
	
	The table identifies additional costs of producing the consultative documents. It does not include costs of the personnel who produced the documents.
	Information on the number of consultation documents issued and the number of responses received is reproduced in the following table:
	
		
			 Title Number issues Number of respondents 
		
		
			 The Military Maritime Graves and the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 Over 300 78 replies were received 
			 Armed Forces Pension Scheme Review 
			 Joint Compensation Review 1,500 Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) Review and Joint Compensation Review (JCR) consultation documents were issued. 20,000 leaflets were also distributed to serving members of the armed forces 203 responses were received in total, with some respondents comments on both the AFPS and JCR 
			 Ministry of Defence Police Quinquennial Review Widely publicised by PG, announcement in Government Opportunities and on MOD Web Responses were received from all those who were specifically targeted. The Ministry of Defence also received a written response from a member of the public 
			 Proposed Introduction of the Voluntary Screening Programme following Health Concerns in Respect of Depleted Uranium 38 documents were issued 37 replies were received 
			 The Second Consultation Document on the Introduction of a Voluntary Screening Programme for Depleted Uranium No record available 20 replies were received 
			 Future of the Defence Diversification Agency 78 documents were issued 21 replies were received 
		
	
	This list does not include reports and other working papers that have been put in the public domain for comment, but which are not put out for formal consultation within the terms of the Code of Practice (e.g. SDR New Chapter public discussion document).
	The Government recommend that policy development should be done in close consultation with stakeholders. Formal consultation documents are only one part of this process, which includes:
	Stakeholder meetings
	Listening events/public meetings
	Web forums
	Public surveys
	Focus groups
	Regional events
	Free phone and freepost surveys and events
	Targeted leaflet campaigns
	Road shows and exhibitions
	Further information on these public consultations can be found on the Internet under http://www.mod.uk/consultations.

Dr. David Kelly

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what inquiries he has made since the death of Dr. David Kelly concerning Dr. Kelly's record of claims for subsistence allowances or expenses; and for what purposes these inquiries were made.

Geoff Hoon: The Ministry of Defence has examined a number of Dr. Kelly's claims in order to provide the Hutton Inquiry with the details of some of his more recent overseas visits, and to determine whether money was owed to him at the time of his death as a result of expenses incurred but unclaimed.

Gulf

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which RAF units are deployed to the Gulf region; what the (a) dates and (b) duration of the last three operational tours were in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

Iraq

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when front line units received grenade launchers for SA80A2 during Operation Telic.

Adam Ingram: Underslung Grenade Launchers for SA80A2 ordered via the Urgent Operational Requirement process were first issued in theatre in early April. In addition, 3 Commando Brigade were already in possession of some Underslung Grenade Launchers, which had been procured earlier for operations in Afghanistan.

Iraq

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total daily expenditure on (a) regular and (b) reserve forces stationed in Iraq is; and what the total expenditure on the maintenance of British forces in Iraq would be between 1 September and 31 March 2004 if spending were to continue at the current rate.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence identifies the costs of Operations in terms of the net additional costs it has incurred. The costs, which the MOD would have incurred had the operation not been undertaken—expenditure on wages and salaries or on conducting training exercises, for example—are deducted from the total costs of the operation.
	Accounting records and costs are not maintained on a daily basis and to provide such an average would be misleading. The net additional costs of Reserve and Regular force personnel are not kept separately. Maintenance costs for the force includes stock consumption and impairment of fixed assets. These costs continue to be the subject of study and audit by the National Audit Office as does their proper allocation to financial years 2002–03 and 2003–04. I will write to the hon. Member when robust estimates are available and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House. This is unlikely to be before publication of the Departmental Resource Accounts.

Missile Defence

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the agreement of 5 February to upgrade RAF Fylingdales for missile defence purposes will require amendment to the agreement relating to the establishment and operation of a ballistic missile early warning station at Fylingdales Moor, of 15 February 1960.

Adam Ingram: As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence said in his Written Ministerial Statement of 5 February 2003, Official Report, column 12WS, the radar at RAF Fylingdales will continue after the upgrade to fulfil its ballistic missile early warning radar role and will continue to be operated and staffed by the RAF. The 1960 exchange of letters, which embodies these principles, will therefore remain the cornerstone of our relationship with the United States in respect of RAF Fylingdales, though we are examining the need for additional detailed operational agreements relating specifically to the use of the radar for missile defence purposes.

Procurement Contracts

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the forecast in-service date on 31 March 2002 was for the (a) Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile, (b) Extended Range Ordnance/Modular Charge System, (c) Hercules C-130J, (d) Landing Platform Dock (Replacement), (e) Merlin HC Mk 3 Helicopter, (f) Merlin HM Mk1 Helicopter, (g) Seawolf Mid-Life Update, (h) Swiftsure and Trafalgar Class Submarine Update, (i) Tornado GR1 Mid-Life Update, (j) Challenger II and (k) Future Joint Combat Aircraft;
	(2)  what the forecast in-service date on 31 March 1998 was for the (a) Extended Range Ordnance/Modular Charge System, (b) High Velocity Missile System, (c) Merlin HC Mk3 Helicopter and (d) Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle;
	(3)  what the forecast in-service date on 31 March 1999 was for the (a) Extended Range Ordnance/Modular Charge System, (b) High Velocity Missile System, (c) Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle and (d) Tornado GR1 Mid-Life Update;
	(4)  what the forecast in-service date on 31 March 2000 was for the (a) Extended Range Ordnance/Modular Charge System and (b) Tornado GR1 Mid-Life Update;
	(5)  what the forecast in-service date on 31 March 2001 was for the (a) Challenger II, (b) A400M, (c) Alternative Landing Ship Logistic, (d) Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile, (e) Eurofighter Aircrew Synthetic Training Aids, (f) Future Joint Combat Aircraft, (g) Short Term Strategic Airlift, (h) Sonar 2087, (i) Successor Identification Friend or Foe, (j) Trojan and Titan and (k) Type 45 Destroyer;
	(6)  what the forecast in-service date on 31 March 1997 was for the (a) Conventionally Armed Stand-Off Missile, (b) Extended Range Ordnance/Modular Charge System, (c) High Velocity Missile System, (d) Merlin HC Mk3 Helicopter, (e) Spearfish Heavyweight Torpedo and (f) Sting Ray Lightweight Torpedo.

Adam Ingram: The information requested is set out in the following table. Boxes labelled N/R indicate that forecast in-service dates were not requested for these years.
	
		
			  Forecast ISD as at: 
			  31 March 2002 31 March 2001 31 March 2000 31 March 1999 31 March 1998 31 March 1997 
		
		
			 ASRAAM Already in service N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R 
			 ERO/MCS July 2005 N/R December 2003 October 2003 February 2003 February 2003 
			 Hercules C-130J June 2000 N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R 
			 LPD(R) March 2003 N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R 
			 Merlin Mk3 Already in service N/R N/R N/R March 2000 March 2000 
			 Merlin Mk1 Already in service N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R 
			 Seawolf August 2006 N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R 
			 Swiftsure and Trafalgar Update May 2002 N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R 
			 Tornado GR1 Already in service N/R Already in service Already in service N/R N/R 
			 Challenger 2 Already in service Already in service N/R N/R N/R N/R 
			 FJCA 2012 2012 N/R N/R N/R N/R 
			 A400M N/R 2009 N/R N/R N/R N/R 
			 ALSL N/R October 2004 N/R N/R N/R N/R 
			 BVRAAM N/R 2012 N/R N/R N/R N/R 
			 Eurofighter Aircrew Synthetic Training Aids N/R 2004 N/R N/R N/R N/R 
			 Short Term Strategic Lift N/R December 2001 N/R N/R N/R N/R 
			 Sonar 2087 N/R Dec 2006 N/R N/R N/R N/R 
			 SIFF N/R April 2004–September 2005 N/R N/R N/R N/R 
			 Trojan and Titan N/R 2005 N/R N/R N/R N/R 
			 Type 45 N/R November 2007 N/R N/R N/R N/R 
			 HVM N/R N/R N/R Already in service Already in service 1 September 1997 
			 MRAV N/R N/R N/R March 2008 March 2008 N/R 
			 CASOM N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R December 2001 
			 Spearfish N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R Already in service 
			 Stingray N/R N/R N/R N/R N/R May 2004

Procurement Contracts

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the estimated cost was of the demonstration and manufacture phase on 31 March 2002 for the (a) Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile, (b) Extended Range Ordnance/Modular Charge System, (c) Hercules C-130J, (d) Landing Platform Dock (Replacement), (e) Merlin HC Mk3 Helicopter, (f) Merlin HM Mk1 Helicopter, (g) Seawolf Mid-Life Update, (h) Swiftsure and Trafalgar Class Submarine Update, (i) Tornado GR1 Mid-Life Update and (j) Challenger II;
	(2)  what the date is of the initial gate approval or equivalent for the (a) Advanced Air-Launched Anti-Armour Weapon, (b) Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile, (c) Astute Class Submarine, (d) Attack Helicopter WAH-64 Apache, (e) Conventionally Armed Stand-Off Missile, (f) Eurofighter, (g) Extended Range Ordnance/Modular Charge System, (h) Hercules C-130J, (i) High Velocity Missile System, (j) Merlin HC Mk3 Helicopter, (k) Multi- Role Armoured Vehicles, (l) Nimrod Maritime Reconnaissance & Attack Mk4 and (m) Seawolf Mid-Life Update;
	(3)  what the target date is for main gate approval or equivalent for the (a) Merlin HM Mk1 Helicopter, (b) Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle and Seawolf Mid-Life Update, (c) Spearfish Heavyweight Torpedo, (d) Sting Ray Lightweight Torpedo, (e) Swiftsure and Trafalgar Class Submarine Update, (f) Tornado GR1 Mid-Life Update, (g) Future Joint Combat Aircraft, (h) Short Term Strategic Airlift and (i) Type 45 Destroyer;
	(4)  what the estimated cost is of the demonstration and manufacture phase at initial gate or equivalent for the (a) Nimrod Maritime Reconnaissance & Attack Mk4, (b) Seawolf Mid-Life Update, (c) Spearfish Heavyweight Torpedo, (d) Sting Ray Lightweight Torpedo, (e) Swiftsure and Trafalgar Class Submarine Update, (f) Tornado GR1 Mid-Life Update, (g) Challenger II, (h) A400M, (i) Future Joint Combat Aircraft and (j) Short Term Strategic Airlift;
	(5)  what the estimated cost is of the demonstration and manufacture phase at initial gate or equivalent for the (a) Advanced Air-Launched Anti-Armour Weapon, (b) Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile, (c) Airborne Stand-Off Radar, (d) Astute Class Submarine, (e) Conventionally Armed Stand-Off Missile, (f) Eurofighter, (g) Extended Range Ordnance/Modular Charge System, (h) Hercules C-130J, (i) High Velocity Missile System, (j) Landing Platform Dock (Replacement), (k) Merlin HC Mk3 Helicopter, (l) Merlin HM Mk1 Helicopter and (m) Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle;
	(6)  what the estimated cost was of the demonstration and manufacture phase on 31 March 2001 for the (a) Challenger II, (b) A400M, (c) Alternative Landing Ship Logistic, (d) Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile, (e) Eurofighter Aircrew Synthetic Training Aid, (f) Future Joint Combat Aircraft, (g) Short Term Strategic Airlift, (h) Sonar 2087, (i) Successor Identification Friend or Foe, (j) Trojan & Titan and (k) Type 45 Destroyer;
	(7)  what the target date is for main gate approval or equivalent for (a) Advanced Air-Launched Anti-Armour Weapon, (b) Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile, (c) Astute Class Submarine, (d) Attack Helicopter WAH-64 Apache, (e) Conventionally Armed Stand-Off Missile, (f) Eurofighter, (g) Extended Range Ordnance/Modular Charge System, (h) High Velocity Missile System, (i) Landing Platform Dock (Replacement) and (j) Merlin HC Mk3 Helicopter;
	(8)  what the date of the initial gate approval or equivalent is for the (a) Spearfish Heavyweight Torpedo, (b) Sting Ray Lightweight Torpedo, (c) Swiftsure and Trafalgar Class Submarine Update, (d) Tornado GR1 Mid-Life Update, (e) Challenger II, (f) Alternative Landing Ship Logistic, (g) Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile, (h) Future Joint Combat Aircraft, (i) Short Term Strategic Airlift, (j) Sonar 2087, (k) Successor Identification Friend or Foe, (l) Trojan & Titan and (m) Type 45 Destroyer;
	(9)  what the (a) approved cost of the the assessment phase at initial gate or equivalent and (b) actual cost of the assessment phase is for the (i) Extended Range Ordnance/Modular Charge System, (ii) Merlin HC Mk3 Helicopter, (iii) Sting Ray Lightweight Torpedo, (iv) Tornado GR1 Mid-Life Update and (v) Short Term Strategic Airlift;
	(10)  what the estimated cost was of the demonstration and manufacture phase on 31 March 2000 for the (a) Extended Range Ordnance/Modular Charge System and (b) Tornado GR1 Mid-Life Update;
	(11)  what the date for main gate approval or equivalent is for the (a) Merlin HC Mk3 Helicopter and (b) Spearfish Heavyweight Torpedo;
	(12)  what the approved cost is of the demonstration and manufacture phase at main gate for procuring all three tranches of the Eurofighter Aircrew Synthetic Training Aids programme.

Adam Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

RAF

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the rates of separated service were for the RAF, broken down by unit, for each of the last two years; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: Information on Separated Service is not collated by individual unit and could be provided in that format only at disproportionate cost. However, the following table shows the rates of Separated Service recorded by the RAF for the last two years.
	
		
			 Incidences ofSeparatedService foroperations andtraining(7) Personnel on Separated Service spendingAverage Trained StrengthLess than28 days28–89 days90–139 days140–279 days 280+ days Total personnel spending time on Separated Service Percentage of average trained strength who were on Separated Service Total days spent on Separated Service 
		
		
			 FY 200 1–02 49,266 13.455 11,322 6,514 2,432 87 33,810 69 1,999,168 
			 FY 2002–03 48,690 12,668 13,798 6,830 2,858 48 36,202 74 2,207,041 
			 FY 2003–04(8) 48,516 13,427 8,744 912 0 0 23,083 48 695,963 
			 1 August 2002–31 July 2003(9) 48,606 12,638 12.812 7,026 2,951 61 35,488 73 2,204,507 
		
	
	(7) An incidence of Separated Service is recorded when an individual is absent from their parent unit on duty for three nights or more and a permanent order has not been issued. The table shows Separated Service for operational and training commitments excluding resettlement and expedition training.
	(8) Information up to 31 July 2003 only.
	(9) Latest 12-month period available ending 31 July 2003. Information from April 2000 excludes weekends where personnel are able to return home while on detached duty.
	The rates of Separated Service have shown an increase over the last two years due to the increased operational tempo as a result of the RAF providing support to the civil authorities during the fire-fighters strike, Exercise Saif Sareea and deployments to Afghanistan and the Gulf.